A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for enhancing an image presented to the pilot on an aircraft display unit. Locations of visible and invisible objects related to aviation such as airports, navigation aids and facilities, and airspace are enhanced by providing location highlighters of the objects. Data representative of the terrain and location of objects located in a scene outside the aircraft are retrieved from one or more data sources. An image generating processor generates an image data set representative of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is determined as a function of the terrain data and highlighter data associated with the location data. The image data set may be provided to a Head-Down Display unit, Head-Up Display unit, or both for display.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system for enhancing an image presented to the pilot on a display unit, such system comprising: a source of navigation data; a source of terrain data; a source of location data of at least one object; an image generating processor configured to receive navigation data representative of aircraft position and orientation; receive terrain data corresponding to the navigation data; receive location data corresponding to the navigation data and representative of a fixed location of at least one object located in the scene outside the aircraft, where the fixed location has been predefined prior to flight; generate an image data set representative of each object enhanced with a location highlighter against the background of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is generated as a function of the terrain data and location highlighter data associated with the location data, further wherein the location highlighter data is determined as a function of the type of each object and is comprised of data representative of enhancing effects; and provide the image data set to a tactical display unit; and the tactical display unit configured to receive the image data set, and present an image represented in the image data set on the tactical display unit, whereby at least one location highlighter appears superimposed against the three-dimensional perspective scene outside the aircraft, where the location of each object is highlighted as a three-dimensional location highlighter corresponding to the type of the object and comprised of at least one configurable enhancing effect.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source of terrain data, location data, or both is comprised of a terrain database.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source of terrain data is comprised of an aircraft system.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source of location data is comprised of an airport database, an airspace database, a navigation database, an aircraft system, or a combination thereof.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image generating processor is a processor of a synthetic vision system, an enhanced vision system, or a combined vision system.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location highlighter is further comprised of aloha-numeric information identifying the object.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the degree of at least one configurable enhancing effect of each object is determined as a function of the distance between the aircraft position and the object, such that the visual appearance of the location highlighter changes as the aircraft approaches the object.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each location highlighter has a shape, where the type of object determines the shape.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image data set is generated so that each location highlighter contrasts with the background and does not blend with the presentation of flight information symbology.
10. An apparatus for enhancing an image presented to a pilot on a display unit, such apparatus comprising: an input communications interface to facilitate a providing of data from at least one data source to an image system processor; the image generating processor configured to receive navigation data representative of aircraft position and orientation; receive terrain data corresponding to the navigation data; receive location data corresponding to the navigation data and representative of a fixed location of at least one object located in the scene outside the aircraft, where the fixed location has been predefined prior to flight; generate an image data set representative of each object enhanced with a location highlighter against the background of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is generated as a function of the terrain data and location highlighter data associated with the location data, further wherein the location highlighter data is determined as a function of the type of each object and is comprised of data representative of enhancing effects; and provide the image data set to a tactical display unit for presenting an image represented in the image data set, whereby at least one location highlighter appears superimposed against the three-dimensional perspective scene outside the aircraft, where each object is highlighted as a three-dimensional location highlighter corresponding to the type of the object and comprised of at least one configurable enhancing effect; and an output communications interface to facilitate the providing of the image data set to the tactical display unit.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the source of terrain data, location data, or both is comprised of at least one database or aircraft system.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the image generating processor is a processor of a synthetic vision system, an enhanced vision system, or a combined vision system.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the location highlighter is further comprised of alpha-numeric information identifying the object.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the degree of at least one configurable enhancing effect of each object is determined as a function of the distance between the aircraft position and the object, such that the visual appearance of the location highlighter changes as the aircraft approaches the object.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each location highlighter has a shape, where the type of object determines the shape.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the image data set is generated so that each location highlighter contrasts with the background and does not blend with the presentation of flight information symbology.
17. A method for enhancing an image presented to a pilot on a display unit, such method comprising: performing the following elements, where such elements are performed by an image generating processor an of aircraft avionics system: receiving navigation data representative of aircraft position and orientation from an aircraft navigation data source; receiving terrain data corresponding to the navigation data from an aircraft terrain data source; receiving location data corresponding to the navigation data and representative of a fixed location of at least one object located in the scene outside the aircraft, where the fixed location has been predefined prior to flight; generating an image data set representative of each object enhanced with a location highlighter against the background of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is generated as a function of the terrain data and highlighter data associated with the location data, further wherein the location highlighter data is determined as a function of the type of each object and is comprised of data representative of enhancing effects; and providing the image data set to a tactical display unit for presenting an image represented in the image data set, whereby at least one location highlighter appears superimposed against the three-dimensional perspective scene outside the aircraft, where the location of at least one object is highlighted as a three-dimensional location highlighter corresponding to the type of the object and comprised of at least one configurable enhancing effect.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the location highlighter is further comprised of alpha-numeric information identifying the object.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the degree of at least one configurable enhancing effect of each object is determined as a function of the distance between the aircraft position and the object, such that the visual appearance of the location highlighter changes as the aircraft approaches the object.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein each location highlighter has a shape, where the type of object determines the shape.
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April 1, 2008
January 10, 2012
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